British hostage describes Somali capture

The husband of the British couple captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia speak of the moment "men with guns" boarded their yacht and took them hostage.

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ITV News reporter Angus Walker made contact with Mr Chandler just before 11am
today, six days after he and his wife were taken captive in the Indian ocean.
Here is a transcript of the telephone call.

Walker: I have a message from Stephen (Collett - Mrs
Chandler's brother). Stephen says everyone here is fine we are all thinking of
you and just hope you are both well - can't wait to speak to you and see
you.

Mr Chandler: Well, that's awfully nice (laughs).

Walker: Paul can you describe how you are being held?

Mr Chandler: We are at the moment in the captain's cabin of
the container ship Kota Wajah - container ship.

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Walker: What kind of ship?

Mr Chandler: A container ship.

Walker: Have you been rescued or have you been
kidnapped?

Mr Chandler: We are hostage together with this ship.

Walker: Can you describe how you were taken hostage?

Mr Chandler: Yes, we were... miles from the... to the
Seychelles.

Walker: And what happened?

Mr Chandler: Came alongside - I was off watch - I was asleep
and men with guns came aboard - it was on Friday last week at 0230 local
time.

Walker: What happened then?

Mr Chandler: Then we were forced to sail er... sail on motor
towards Somalia...

Walker: How far are you off the Somali coast at the moment
do you think?

Mr Chandler: One mile - we are at anchor.

Walker: Do you know what the nearest town is?

Mr Chandler: Where is the nearest town? Hang on a minute...
now what the nearest town is... hang on a minute. Hello did you get that?

Walker: Didn't get name of town. Could you repeat?

Mr Chandler: Ubdu - due east from Mogadishu - about 200
miles.

Walker: Have your hostage takers demanded any ransom?

Mr Chandler: Not officially - they kept asking for money and
took everything of value on the boat.

Channel 4 News's international editor, Lindsey Hilsum,
writes: "The MoD have confirmed that a yacht floating in the Indian Ocean is the
Lynn Rival, hijacked last Friday by Somali priates. So where are the sailors,
the retired British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler?

"We've been speaking to people close to the pirates in the Somali coastal
town of Haradhere. They say three pirates have arrived there with the Chandlers
who've been transferred to another hijacked vessel being held off-shore.

"The Chandlers join about 170 other hostages, mainly Philippino, Chinese and
other crewmen who were on the eight vessels which have been seized in recent
weeks. Our source says "They've been taken food and qat". Qat is the bitter
narcotic leaf chewed by nearly all Somali men - not sure that will bring any
comfort to the Chandlers.

"Now they're being held with so many others, in the pirates' stronghold, it
becomes very difficult for the British to mount a rescue mission. A report from
AFP says 60 gunmen have turned up to support the pirates. So the Chandlers may
have a long wait, as go-betweens try to negotiate their release."